Converting a Virgin Webplayer into a PC - Continued
Getting Ready To Install Windows
Since there's no floppy drive in the Webplayer, the task of installation becomes a bit harder. First, format the hard drive using "format /s". Also, make sure to mark the partition as active using "fdisk". You *may* need to clear the master boot record using "fdisk /cmbr disk#" depending upon what you previously had on the hard drive. If you already had formatted the hard drive without using the "/s" (system) switch, you should be able to set it using "sys driveletter" if you have that utility. Try installing the drive as the primary hard drive and if it boots to the command prompt you're in good shape.
Next, you'll need to transfer the Windows 98 or ME setup & CAB files onto the hard drive. You'll also need to download the drivers in this archive (video, sound, udma) and place them on the hard drive. Also grab these PCI bridge drivers. Be sure to extract them from their zip form or load a copy of Winzip on the drive as well. And if you have any hopes of connecting to the internet once you get Windows setup, you'd better put the drivers for your USB ethernet card on there as well *grin*.
Step 7: Installing Windows
 
| Now you're ready to hook the drive back up to the Webplayer. You'll need to enable the ide controller in the BIOS (keep pressing F2 upon boot.. the BIOS password is "schwasck". Hopefully it will boot to the command prompt (if you don't see one, hit ENTER a couple times). Now just run the Windows 98/ME setup.exe. Your experience may differ from mine, but normally when you install Windows 98 it runs the disk check, tho I couldn't see anything but a blue rectangle box. I assume this was due to video incompatibility in DOS, but in any case, pressing enter and using tab should get you through these. You should then be fine throughout the rest of the setup. Installation is as normal for installing Windows on any system and you should be presented with the lovely "Getting ready to run Windows for the first time" logo within half an hour or so. I'd swore I'd never see that logo again in my life, but until I have more time to mess around with Linux on the Webplayer, '98 will have to do =] Once setup has completed successfully, you can install the video, sound, and udma drivers, as well as any drivers for your usb devices. If you plan on using the modem, the generic 33.6 modem driver should work, but I haven't had a need to use the modem so I just disabled it entirely. |
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